Slicing machine



Sept. 23, i952 H. E. FARMER 2,611,403

` sLIcING MACHINE Filed April 1e, 1948 s sheets-snm 1 Sept 23 1952 H; E.FARMER smcms MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1948 .l In' sept.23, 1952 Filed April 16, 1948 H. E. FARMER SLICING MACHINE 3sheets-sheet s I N VEN TOR.

#ordre Z. Fv-Wer Patented Sept. 23, v1952 UNITED STATES T OFFICE SLICINGMACHINE Horace E. Farmer, Grosse Pointe, Mich., assignor to FamousFoods, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April16, 1948, Serial No. 21,477

12 Claims. 1

into thin slices suitable for making potato chips.

In conventional practice, the potatoes to be sliced are fed onto arotary table having one or more slicing knives; and, as the tablerotates, the knives cut thin slices from the potatoes. In order toprovide a product suitable for potato chips, the slices must be cutcleanly from the potato; however, the operation of the slicing machineand the suitability of the slices varies considerably depending upon thecharacteristics of the potatoes being sliced. Diiculty arises in thatthe cutting characteristics of potatoes are not standard and apparentlyvary according to their age, the climatic and soil conditions, theseason of the year at which they mature, etc. As a result. conventionalslicing machines do not produce slices of uniform quality.

I have now discovered that variations in the slicing characteristics ofpotatoes can be offset to a large extent by properly adjusting thecutting angle of each knife on the rotary table of the machine. Byadjusting the knives from time to time as the slicing characteristics ofpotatoes vary, a markedly improved operation is obtained, smootheroperation of the machine results and a more uniform` product isproduced.

An important objectpf the present invention is to provide a vegetableslicing machine in which the slicing knives are adjustable to compensatefor variations Vin slicing characteristics of the vegetables. l

Another object of the present invention is to provide a slicing machinein which the knives are easily and quickly adjustable.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a slicing machinehaving a novel adjustment for varying, the thickness of slices cut fromthe vegetables.

A further object of the invention is to provide a slicing machine of theabove-mentioned character that is simple in construction, eiiicient inoperation, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification and wherein likenumerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a. slicing machineembodying the invention;

Y 2 Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is an enlarged, top planView of the rotary table embodying a part of the invention; Fig. 4 is anenlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional viewtaken on the line 4-4 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional vieW taken on theline 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on theline 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;and

Fig. 8 is a bottom perspective view of a casting forming a part of arotary table.

In this specification the slicing machine is described as adapted' tocut thin slices from potatoes, but it is tobe understood that themachine can be used to cut or slice other vegetables or in anyothercapacity where a device of this character has utility.

Considered in certain of its broader aspects the slicing machinecomprises a support I0 for the base I2 which mounts the rotary table I4.The support I0 is substantially rectangular in plan. and at each of itsfour corners is an upright standard I6. These standards I6 collectivelysupport a vertically movable hopper I8 above the table I4. The hopper I8is adapted to receive potatoes to be sliced and is equipped with a pairof depending chutes 20 which deliver the potatoes onto therotary tableII4 in the path ,of slicing knives 22. Movement of the'potatoes intochutes 20 is contr'olledby a slidable panel or gate 24.-

which extends horizontally across the upper or inlet ends 26 thereof(Figs. 1 and 2). A handle 28 is provided on one end of the gate 24 and,as best shown in Fig. 2,-the latter can be partially withdrawn toopenone ofthe chutes 20 or entirely withdrawn to open both of the chutes.

It is desirable to adjust the hopper I8 and its appendages verticallyfrom time to` time in order to provide ready laccess tothe rotary tableI4. Accordingto the present invention, this: opera.- tion :isaccomplished by mounting parallel shafts 30 in bearings 32 which areprovided on opposite pairs of the standards I6. vEach shaft 30 carries apair ofv spaced pinions 34 which mesh with vertical racks 36 ontheconfronting sideA of hopper I8. and the two shafts 30 also carry xedgears 38 disposed laterally of :the hopper and connected for mutualoperation by an endless chain or belt 4U. 4Qne of theshafts 30 carries ahandwheel 42, and it will be readily apparent that actuation of thelatter.simultaneouslyrotates `the shafts to raise or lowerthehopper IB.vY

l Inlorder to locate the hopper I8 between standards I6 and to guide itsvertical movement, the two racks 36 in each pair are connected by anintegral transverse member 44, and the two members 44 are providedsubstantially centrally thereof with vertical guides 4'8 which operatein guide blocks 48 loosely mounted on the shafts 30.

rBy reason of the above construction and arrangement` of parts, thehopper I8, together with the Aattached chutes 20., can be raised quicklyfrom the rotary table |4 whenever it is necessary to remove the latteror for cleaning or adjusting the slicing knives 22. Also, by making thehopper 4I8 vertically adjustable in the manner described, it is possibleeasily and quickly to obtain a desired initial adjustment between thefchutes 20 and the rotary table I4.

The operation first referred to in connection with the verticaladjustment is particularly significant, since it is contemplated thatthe rotary table I 4 be easily removable from the base I2; and, in orderto effect such removal, it is necessary to'raise the hopper I8 from theposition which it normally assumes in operation (Fig. l). By making therotary table I4 removable and providing several tables for each machine,one table can be substituted for the other, and it is necessary for themachine to be idle for only a few minutes while the substitution isbeing made. As suggested, the tables I4 must be removed from time totime for cleaning and whenever it is necessary to vary the cutting angleof slicing knives 22. Heretofore, slicing machines of this type havebeen constructed in such manner that they necessarily were out ofservice for considerable lengths of time whenever it was necessary toremove or to make any adjustment on the rotary table I4.

It is believed that the construction and mounting of the rotary table I4is an important feature of this invention, and a detailed description ofthe same is nowy given. The table comprises a casting 50 to. which iswelded or otherwise fastened a highly polished top plate 52.

Attention is now directed to Fig. 8 which shows the casting 50 inperspective and upside down to more clearly illustrate its construction.It will be observedy that thev casting 50 has a central hub portion 54which is formed integrally at its upper end with a radially extendingdiskshaped top supporting portion 56 and at its lower end with rigidarms. 51. Whiley the element 50 is referred to herein asa casting, it isto be understood that itV may be fabricatedv from a. plurality of partswhich are welded together to have the form illustrated.

The base I 2fsupports a ballbearing 63 on which a carriage 64 issupported for rota-tion. A cylindrical frange-65 extends upwardly at theperiphery of the carriage toprovide a recess for the reception of thecastingl 50i, the latter having a plurality of projecting ribs 66 whichmate in slots 61 provided. in the inner face ofthe flange 65. A wormring gear 68.' is secured to the carriage 64, disposed in mesh with aworm 69 driven from a shaft I by driving means, notv herein illustrated.A cylindrical ringl I2 is secured to the carriage 64 to rotate.therewith and to form a skirt which extends down over'the bearing 631 toprotect it against dirt and grime. It will be noted that not only maythecasting 50 be lifted from the carriage 6L without the removal of anut, bolt and the like, but the entire central area of the carriage isopen, preventingv the accumulation of potato particles therewithin.v

The top plate 52 andy the top supporting portion 56 of the casting 50are provided with aligned and identically shaped slots 86 and 88 whichopen through the edges thereof and extend inwardly therefrom at oppositesides of the hub 54. Each slot 86, 88 extends substantially half waythrough the table I4. In this connectionit is to be understood thatseparate slots 86, 88 are provided for eachv slicing knife 22. In theform of the invention here shown by way of illustration, the table isequipped with two slicing knives, and two slots 86, 88 therefor areprovided.

As suggested, the slicing knives 22 are mounted on the rotary table I4,and each is rotatably adjustable so that its cutting angle can beadjusted to obtain maximum efficiency. The slicing knives 22 areidentical in construction and are mounted identically on the table I4;therefore, to clarify and simplify the disclosure, a detaileddescription of but one will be given.

According to the present invention, the slicing knife 22 is associatedwith a pair of discrete plate elements 90 and 92 which are set intorecesses 94 and 96 provided in the top surface ofl the table at oppositesides of the slot 8'6, 88. These two plate elements extend ush with thetop of the table I4 (Fig. 6), and they have arcuate peripheral edges 98and |00 disposed about ai However, the adjacent edgesA common center.|02 and |04 of the plate elements 00 and 92 are rectilinear and disposedin spaced relation above the slot 86, 88. The recesses 94 and 96 havearcuate, vertical walls |06 and |08 respectively. which complement andsnugly fit the peripheries of plate elements 90 and 92, and the bottomsurfaces thereof are provided with shallow arcuate grooves I|0 and II2which snugly receive correspondingly shaped arcuate ribs ||4 and |I6 onthe plate elements. Thus, the plate elements 90 and 92 are rotatablyadjustable in their respective recesses, and the arcuate grooves I|0 andII2 guide and locate the elements during such adjustment so that theadjacent edges thereof can be maintained in fixed spaced relation andexactly parallel at all times.

In order to hold the two plate elements 90 and 92 in a selected adjustedposition, the top supporting portion 56 is formed with elongated arcuateslots |I8 at spaced points along the grooves ||0 and |I2, and setscrewsI 20 extend through these slots into the plate elements. It will bereadily apparent that when setscrews |20 are loosened, the plateelements 90 and 92f can be rotatably adjusted within the limits of slots|I8 and that the setscrews can be tightened to hold theplate elements inthe adjusted position.

Slicing knife 22-is carried by the plate elementv 90 and, as shown inFig. 6, it projects across the gap between the two platev elements andis arranged with the cutting edge thereof parallel and in slight spacedrelation to the edge|04l ofv plate element 92. In this connection,however, it will be observed that the slicing knife isr fastened to theplate element 90' by a plurality of. countersunk flat-head screws |22which extend through elongated slots |23 in the plate elementv rotarytable |4 in the path of the rotating slice ingknives 22. `As the latterpass under the chutes, they cut relatively thin slices Yfrom thepotatoes, which slices pass underthe knives, fall through the slots 86,88, andare collected in a suitable receptacle (not shown) according toconventional practice.

- In this connection it will be observed that the chutes 20 are formedwith tapered extensions` |30 (Figs. 6 and 7) whichA project laterallyahead of :the slicing knives 22. Thus, as the knives sweep under thechutes 20, they force the potatoes against the tapered extensions |30which react to press them solidly against the table. As

slices' are removed progressively from the potatoes, the remaining uncutportions are advanced against the tapered extensions |30, and the ta--pered shape of the latter holds the potatoes so that knives 22 can slicethe entire potato cleanlyv and effectively.

In order that slicesof varyingthickness may be cut from the potatoes,provision is made for flexing,v the top supporting portion 56 whichcarry the plate elements 92 in a direction normal tothe plane of knives22. For a detailed description of this feature of the invention,attention is again directed to Fig. 8. At the under side'of casting 50are opposed, triangularly shaped webs |32 which are formed integrallywith hub 54 and-top supporting portion 56. Also, it will be observedthat the top'supporting portion 56 is formed with embossments |34 and|36 atopposite sides of the slots 88 which provide a sufficientthickness of metal for recesses '94 and 96 respectively. Moreover, itwill be observed. that one of the webs |32 in each triangular supportingsection extends across a respective embossment |34 ,and that relativelymassive integral metallic portions |38 extend from the bottom edge ofthe Webs to the slotted edges of recesses 94 and from the hub portion 54substantially to the edge of embossments |34. The massive portions |38cooperate with the webs |32 to strengthen and make relatively rigid andiniexible the supporting portion 56 Which underlies and supports theknifecarrying plate sections 90.

Each set of webs |32 carries a respective one of the rigid arms 51 and,as suggested, the latter underlie and are spaced from the portions ofthe top supporting portion 56 which carry plate elements 92. Each of thearms 51 preferably comprises an outer angle portion |42 which followsthe contourof the top supporting portion 56, and an inner Y-shapedportion |44 which extends along a chord between webs |32 and the distalend of the outer portion |42. The open arm structure thus provided isexceedingly rigid, but relatively light in weight. At the ends of arms51 are integral, lateral extensions |46 which underlie the embossments|36. Extensions |46 are provided with internally threaded holes |48which receive externally threaded sleeves |50. As best shown in Fig. 4,the sleeves |50 are provided at the lower ends thereof with heads |52and the upper ends thereof project from the extensions |48 and abutagainst the embossments |36. Extending axially through sleeves |50 arecap screws |54, and these screws have threaded terminal shank portions|56 which enter internally threaded openings |58 ln the embossments.

Thus, the cap screws |54 can be tightened to flex the superjacentportions of top supporting portion 56 downwardly against the ends ofsleeves |50. Manifestly, flexure of the top plate 56 in this manneradjusts the vertical distance between 6. the edges |l4 of plate elements92 4and slicing knives 22. Since plate elements Y62 are disposed4 aheadof the slicing knives, and since the potatoes to be sliced move acrossthese plates toward the slicing knives, this adjustment regulates thethickness of slice cut therefrom. Sleeves |50 and cap screws |54 holdthe ilexed portions of the top supporting portion 56 solidly in theselectedadfv justed position. Moreover, the adjustmentcan be.

made easily and quickly and with conventional tools. 1 i

Thus. itwil1 be seen that the rotary tablev I4 can be removed quicklyand easily from -the machine merely by lifting it from the recess formedby the iiange 65. A second table |4 can be substituted for the removedtable and the entire` operation can be performed in a matter of min-Utes.

After the rotary table I4 has been removed from the machine, the cuttingangle of the knives can be readily adjusted merely by loosening thesetscrews |26. Preferably, all of thesetscrews |20 are loosenedsimultaneously so that'- the plate elements and 92 can be adjustedat thesame time to maintain proper. relationship between the slicing knives 22and plate elements 92. justed relative to plate elements 92 or removedfor cleaning or sharpening merely by loosening fiat head screws |22.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is 'tof be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes in the size. shape and arrangement of parts can beresorted to Without:Y

departing from the spirit of the invention o the scope of the appendedclaims. y

What is claimed is:

1. In a slicing machine, a table mounted forl rotation about a centralaxis, said table having a circular recess at one side of said axis,plate meansmounted insaid recess for angulary adjustment therein, and aslicing'knife carried by said plate means.

2. In a slicing machine, a table mountedvfor rotation about a centralaxis, said table havingy a circular recess at one side of said axis, apairl of spaced arcuate plates secured in said recessy for individualangular adjustment therein, and a slicing knife secured to one of saidplates.

3. In aslicing machine, a vtable mounted for rotation about a centralaxis, said table having a circular recess at oneside of said axis, apair of spaced arcuate plates secured in said recess for individualangular adjustment therein, a slicing knife secured to one of saidplates, and means for adjusting the other said plate out of the plane ofsaid irst plate.

4. In a slicing machine, a table mounted for rotation about a centralaxis, said table having a pair of circular recesses spaced from eachother and said axis, a pair of spaced arcuate plates secured in eachsaid recess for individual angular adjustment therein. and a slicingknife carried by one of said plates in each said recess.

5. In a slicing machine, a table mounted for rotation about a centralaxis, said table having a pair of circular recesses spaced from eachother and said axis, a pair of spaced arcuate plates secured in eachsaid recess for individual angular adjustment therein, a slicing knifecarried by one of said plates in each said recess, and means foradjusting the other said plate in each said recess out of the plane ofsaid first plate therein.

Also, the slicing knives can be quickly ad-4 6'. In a slicing machine, arotary table;` means for feeding objects to be sliced onto said tablet;a slicing knife mounted onsaid table and rotatable therewith; means foradjustingv said knife to vary the angle of its cutting edge with respectto the object being sliced; a support mounted on the table :ahead of theknife for angular adjustment; and. means for adjusting said support in adirection. normal to the plane of the knife.

7. In a slicing machine, a rotary table; a slicing knife; a platecarrying said knife supportedy by and fastened to the table, said platerotatably adjustable'on the table to vary the cutting angle of theknife, and a vertically and rotatably adjustablesupport mounted on thetable ahead of the knife.

8. In a slicing machine, a rotary table;l a slicing knife; a platecarrying said knife supported by and fastened to the table', saidplate'rotatably adjustable on the table to vary the cutting angle of theknife; and a support mounted on the plate ahead of the knife, saidsupport adapted to underlie objects to be sliced by the knife andVadjustable relative to the llatter to regulate the thickness of theslice. y A

9'. In a slicing machine, a rotary table having separate sections, oneof said sections being relatively rigid and the other ofsaid sectionsbeing relatively flexible in a direction normal tothe plane of saidrigid section; laterally spaced, rotatably adjustable plate elementsmounted on respective sections of said table; a slicing knife carried bythe plate element associated with said relatively rigid table section,said knife arranged with its cutting edge disposed in proximity to theother of said plate elements; and means coactive with said relativelyflexible section for adjusting the interplanar distance between theplate elements.

10. In a slicing machine, a rotary table having a top portion providedwith a slot which opens through and extends inwardly from the edgethereof, the section-'of the table at one side of said slot beingrelatively rigid and the section of ther table attheother side of saidslot being relatively exible; a'. slicing knife; separate plate elementsmounted inopposed relation on respective sections of the table, one ofsaid plate elements carrying the slicing knife and both ofsaid plate.

elements being. rotatably adjustable on thev table.

' 11. In a slicing machine. a rota-ry table having a top portionprovided with a slot which opens through and extends inwardly from the.edge

8. thereof, the section of the table at one side of said slot beingrelatively rigid and the section of the table at the other side of saidslot being relatively fiexible; a slicing knife separate plate elementsmounted inopposed relation on respective sections of the table,v one ofsaid plate elements carrying the slicing knife andv both of said plateelements being rotatably adjustable on the table, the parts soconstructed and arranged that the cutting edge of the'knife is disposedalong and above said slot vin proximity and adjacent to al substantiallyparallel edge of the plate element disposed in opposition thereto; andmeans for adjusting thev relatively flexible section of the tablewhereby to m'ove the plate element carried thereby vertically withrespect to the cutting edge of the knife. v

12. In. aV slicing machine, a rotary table having a top portion providedwith a slot which opens through and extends inwardly from the edgethereof, the section of the table at one side of said slot beingrelatively rigid and the section of the table at the other side of saidslot being relatively flexible, said table further provided with a rigidarm below and spacedv from said relatively flexible section; a slicingknife; 4separate plate elements mounted inA opposed relation onrespective sections of the table, one' of said plateA elements carryingthe slicing knife and' both of 'said plate elements being rotatablyadjustable on the table', the partsA so constructed andi arranged thatthe cutting edge of the knife' is' disposed along and above said slotinproximity and adjacent to a substantially parallel edge of the plateelement disposed in opposition thereto; and means connecting said rigidarm to said relatively flexible section adapted to adjust the samerelative to' each other whereby rto vary the vertical distance betweenthe knife and said opposed plate element.

HORACE E. FARMER.

REFERENCESv CITED The following references are of record in the rile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

